Maintaining Dump Trailer Battery
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Maintaining Dump Trailer Battery
Well, we just picked up our first dump trailer yesterday. We got a BigTex 10SR: http://www.bigtextrailers.com/trailers/10sr.html
We have a couple trucks at work that we will be pulling this with. I am not sure I want to spend the time wiring up a trailer charge wire (although I may do it). I was wondering about those solar chargers. Would one of those work good for this?
The dump feature uses battery juice for putting the bed up as well as down. When it gets used to dump it would only be 1-5 times per day (if that) when it does go out. A lot of times it will just be used to transport our skid steer around.
Any info would be great.
-Matt
P.S. Does anyone have a REALLY good diagram for a trailer charge wire for a truck that doesn't even have one set up?
We have a couple trucks at work that we will be pulling this with. I am not sure I want to spend the time wiring up a trailer charge wire (although I may do it). I was wondering about those solar chargers. Would one of those work good for this?
The dump feature uses battery juice for putting the bed up as well as down. When it gets used to dump it would only be 1-5 times per day (if that) when it does go out. A lot of times it will just be used to transport our skid steer around.
Any info would be great.
-Matt
P.S. Does anyone have a REALLY good diagram for a trailer charge wire for a truck that doesn't even have one set up?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Windsor, Colorado
I dont see why a solar setup wouldnt work quite well. I dont have a dump trailer myself, but a friend of mine has a couple about the same size you are dealing with that I borrow on occasion. Both of his dont use power coming down, just gravity. The biggest factor IMO is what you are hauling. If it is construction trash I know from experience you can dump 4 loads without needing a battery recharge, as my pickup didnt have the charge line at the time. Something heavier like dirt or gravel might use a little more juice.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
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if you are using the trailer every day the solor charger will not keep the battery charged. they are very low amps. they are just to maintain a battery when it is not in use. what ever you do make sure the charger is automatic so you don't overcharge the battery. i would buy a charger that you can plug in.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
The trailer will not be used everyday. Even if it went out everyday it would mostly be to move the skid steer around. I can see it going out a max of 2 or 3 times per week.
-Matt
-Matt
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Windsor, Colorado
I think the solor charger would be fine in your situation. I just looked in catalog I have and they have a 5watt as well as 15 watt trickle chargers available. Considering it is only being used as a dump occasionally the battery should have plenty of time to recharge. You would just have to realize you arent going to be able to use it more than 5 or 6 times in a short amount of time.
Hotshot
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From: NW burbs of chicago
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Originally Posted by mudmaker
I think the solor charger would be fine in your situation. I just looked in catalog I have and they have a 5watt as well as 15 watt trickle chargers available. Considering it is only being used as a dump occasionally the battery should have plenty of time to recharge. You would just have to realize you arent going to be able to use it more than 5 or 6 times in a short amount of time.
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From: Huntington Indiana
Originally Posted by elmo8641
big differance between WATTS and AMPS. 15 watts will only be about 1 amp. it would take a long time to charge a 750 amp battery 1 amp an hour. watts equals amps x volts (W=A x V) to charge a battery you have to be at 14-15 volts. 15w=A x 14.5V amps would be 1.03amps. if you need to charge it from complete drain then it would take 650 hours of daylight. 12 hours of daylight would be 54 days.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,496
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From: Simpsonville, KY
Solar charges don't have near the output you'll need to run a dump trailer. Wire the trucks 
You won't regret it. Anything else will be constant effort and worry. Do the trucks once and forget about it.
You won't regret it. Anything else will be constant effort and worry. Do the trucks once and forget about it.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Ya, well my Dad went and bought ANOTHER trailer yesterday. We are getting into lawn care and maintenance. The new landscape trailer has brakes on it. So, I will probably be adding trailer brake controllers to a few trucks. I might as well wire in the charge wire. I am going to have it open anyways.
Anyone have any diagrams for trailer brakes as well as a battery charge wire?
-Matt
Anyone have any diagrams for trailer brakes as well as a battery charge wire?
-Matt
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Well, my Dad's 99 F-150 and my 01 F-150 are good to go. But I have a 1995 F-250, a 1988 Super Duty and a 1991 F-350 that I have wired a 7 way plug up on. BUT, only the trailer lights (brake, turn, running lights) are hooked up. So I guess I would need to do everything else.
-Matt
-Matt
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: northern Michigan
If your truck already has the towing package, the aux wire is already run to the trailer connector on the pickup from the factory. You would just require the break control unit up front, ties in under the dash with the adaptor harness for your truck, and wire the trailer side to the trailer connector.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Sarnia, Ontario, CANADA!
Well, I hardwired the 91 F350 up and did my truck as well. I guess the question I have is the power wire comes directly off the battery. How should this be hooked up? Use a relay? What size of fuse or breaker should I use? Also, what size fuse should be used for the brake controller power?
-Matt
-Matt
